Cylinder for internal-combustion engines



H. 'STEINER Aug. 28, 1945.

CYLINDER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Aug. 25, 1945 INVENTOR fl/l/vs JTE/NE/F W M M w w E N R O n A Patented Aug. 28, 1945 CYLINDER FOR INTERNAL-COLIBUSTION ENGINES Hans Steiner, Winterthur, Switzerland, assignor to Sulzer Freres, Socit Anonyme, Winterthur,

Switzerland Application August 25, 1943, Serial No. 499,918

In Switzerland November 16, 1942 Claims.

The invention relates to a cylinder, in particular for internal combu tion engines, and consists in that a casing, separate from the cylinder and surrounding the ports, is upported in such a way that, when radial expansion of the casing occurs, displacement of the centre of the casing away from the cylinder axis is prevented.

The invention offers the advantage that the position of the cylindeneven when high temperatures prevail in the walls of the casing, is not adversely affected either by the expansion of the casing and connecting pipes or by gas pressures. A further advantage is that a simple and reliable metallic packing can be provided between the cylinder or cylinder liner and the separate casing. If the casing were supported otherwise, it would be necessary to provide between cylinder and casing a packing which would permit of considerable displacement between cylinder and easing.

In the drawing two examples of execution of the invention are represented diagrammatically.

Fig, 1 shows a longitudinal section through an internal combustion engine cylinder,

Fig. 2 a cross-section through the cylinder and through the casing surrounding the exhaust ports.

Figs. 3 and 4 show longitudinal sections of a cylinder for a further example of execution.

In Fig. l is shown the working cylinder I of, for example, a free-piston power-gas engine not otherwise represented in the drawing. The cylinder with it; liner 2, which is provided with exhaust ports 3 and air inlet ports 4, is attached to the supporting frame 5 by means of flanges 6. Ports 3 and 4 are surrounded by casings I and 8, which are arranged separate from cylinder I and liner 2.

The casings l and 8 are fitted in such a way that during their radial expansion displacement of casing centres 9 and I0 from the cylinder axis II is prevented, two pairs of pins I2 and I3 being arranged for this purpose centrally and symmetrically in the central planes I4 and I5 of casings I and 8 respectively. The pins I2 .pass through the cooling-jacket I6 of casing 'l, the jacket being fitted tight against pins I2, for example by a welded joint.

' Pins I2 and I3 are placed in plates I1 and I8 so as to be 'movable in their own axial direction and transverse to the cylinder axis I I, plates II difiering from plates I8, which lie direct against frame 5, in being connected to frame 5 by means of rails I9. In this way they areable to yield in the axial direction of pin I2 and thus in a direction rimning transverse to the cylinder axis 'I I.

The flanges 28 and 2| of casings I and 8 are made gas-tight against liner 2 by means of the packings 22, 23 and 24, for instance by rubber rings in grooves in liner 2, so that liner 2 can move freely in casings 'l and 8 in the direction of the axis II. Between packings 22 and 23 compressed air is let into groove 25 through pipe 26 in order to prevent the escape of exhaust gases into the engine-room.

If upon becoming heated when in service the casings I and 8 expand radially, then the pins I2 and I3 are displaced in plates I1 and I8. As, however, casings l and 8 are so fitted on frame 5 as to yield in a radial direction, no displacement of the casing centres 9 and Ill relative to the cylinder axis II can take place, nor can the expansion have any efiect on the cylinder I.

It can be seen from Fig. 2 that the direction in which the pins I2 fitted to the casing are displaced when the casing expand radially runs transverse to the direction 21 of the flow of exhaust gases out of the exhaust branch 28. If the exhaust branch 28 is connected to the exhaust pipe by means of an expansion sleeve, the casing I is subjected to a gas pressure corresponding to the cross-section 29 of I the outlet of exhaust branch 28, the pressure being exerted in the op- -posite direction to the arrow 21 and thus transsituated in a plane 35 parallel to the centralplane 34 of easing 3| and perpendicular to cylinder axis II. The flange 32 is connected to the casing 3| by the connecting piece 36 which surrounds liner 2 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the liner. On the inner circumference 31 of casing 3| a metallic packing is provided against liner 2, or a plastic packing may be used. Cylinder I is provided with openings 38 (Fig. 3).

At erection the casing 3| is first introduced through one of the two openings 38 in cylinder I and is made fast by means of bolts 33. Next, the liner 2 is inserted in the cylinder I and in the casing 3l from above. At dismantling this procedure is reversed.

If as a result of becoming heated the casing 31 expand radially, the fact that casing 3| is fixed by flange 32 guarantees that this radial expansion can take place unhindered by the expansion of the cylinder or cylinder jacket I and of the cylinder liner 2, since the connecting piece 36 provides the required radial flexibility relative to flange 32. A displacement of the casing centre 9 away from the cylinder axis I I, however, does not take place, as the flange 32 is disposed in a plane 35 parallel to the central plane 34 of easing 3|. Here too, then, the expansion of casing 3i has no reaction on liner 2. An expansion of the connecting piece 36 causes only a slight depression oi casing 3|, but no displacement of casing centre 39 away from the cylinder axis H. I

In internal combustion engines the casings 1 and 8 (Figs. 1 and 2) in general surround the cylinder liner 2. They may, however, be disposed around the cylinder or cylinder jacket I for instance when there is no separate liner and the cylinderrunning surfaces and the Jacket form one piece.

This form of easing support i of special advantage in internal combustion engines with a high pressure in the exhaust pipe, such as i'reepiston power-gas generators. At the high exhaust-gas temperatures prevailing in such engines expansion pieces are required in the exhaust pipe, but the supporting means is rigid with respect to the back-pressure of the power-gas pipe, since the extended axis of the connecting branch to the power-gas pipe passes through the above-mentioned centre of gravity of the points of support.

The invention is not limited to internal combustion engines but also includes cylinders of other machines and vessels with ports surrounded by a casing, where expansion due to heat has to be considered and a displacement of the cylinder or vessel out of its axis requires to be obviated.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine the improvement which comprises a cylinder attached to a supporting frame, a cylinder liner inside the cylinder, intake ports in the liner, exhaust ports in the liner longitudinally spaced from the intake ports, a casing surroimding the intake ports, another casing surrounding the exhaust ports, and yieldable means connecting each casing to the cylinder, whereby when radial expansion of the casings occur, displacement of the casing center from the cylinder axis is obviated.

2. An internal combustion engine according to claim 1 which comprises a. plurality of pins in supporting engagement with each casing and theframe, said pins being located centrally and symmetrically in planes at right angles to the axis of the cylinder liner which pass through the ports.

3. An internal combustion engine according to claim 1 which comprises a separate casing surrounding each group of ports, flange means spaced from the ports for connecting each casing to the cylinder, and yieldalble means extending in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder axis for connecting the casing to the flange means.

4. An internal combustion engine according to claim 1 which comprises yielda'ble plate means connected to the engine supporting frame, and means connecting the plates to the casing.

5. An internal combustion engine according to claim 1 which comprises sealing means between the casing and the cylinder liner surrounding the exhaust ports, and port means for supplying air under pressure to the sealing means.

STEINER. 

